Loose-leaf binder



A ug. 8, 1944. A. G. LOTTER LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Nov. 1o, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l y /ph 5. Laim" Aug. 8, 1944. A. G. LoTTER LoosE LEAF BINDER Filed Nov. l0 ,l 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 8, 1944 LOOSE-LEAE BINDER Adolph G. Lotter, Milwaukee, Wis., assignorto Stationers Loose Leaf Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a. corporation of Wisconsin Application November 10, 1942, Serial No. 465,109

1 Claim. (Cl. 129-12) This invention relates to loose leaf binders of the type illustrated in Patent No. 1,899,763, is sued to Adolph G. Lotter, February 28, 1933.

ABinders of this type generally comprise a pair of binder heads connected by posts which are anchored to one head and pass through holes in the other head. Suitable clamping devices are carried by the latter head, which is generally the top head, from gripping the posts and holding the top head against upward movement. These clamping devices are so arranged that the top binder head may be pushed down onto the stack of leaves but cannot be retracted unless the clamping devices are released.

Heretofore such binders have been made with hollow metal heads but with the recent emphasis on reducing the use of metal, the hollow head can no longer be employed; and this necessitates an entirely different construction for the clamping devices. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a binder of this general type in which many desirable features of binders heretofore in use are obtained without necessitating the hollow metal head construction.

More specifically it is an object of this invention to provide a loose leaf binder so designed and constructed that the heads may be formed of wood or other suitable nonrnetallic material.

In binders of the past wherein the hollow metal head construction was employed, the latch mechanism for locking the top head to the posts was actuated :by mechanism inside the binder head. The use of a solid head precludes such construction and it is therefore an object of this 2 invention to provide a novel and simple latch mechanism which may be secured to a wooden or other nonmetallic head to lock the head to the post in the same way as before but which requires but a minimum use of metal and is so designed and constructed that the releasing of both latch mechanisms can be simultaneously effected in a very convenient and expeditious manner with the hands in the positions they occupy in lifting the top binder head olf the stack of leaves.

Inasmuch as the posts of binders of this char* acter are arranged to be threaded into each other and into receptacles on the lower binder head, this invention has as another of its objects the provision of a novel manner of mounting an internally threaded ferrule in the lower binder head to provide the necessary anchorage for each post.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, this in- 55 vention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly dened by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one complete example of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed in accordance with thev best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a loose leaf binder embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the binder illustrating the manner in which the top binder head is released;

Figure 3 is an end view with parts broken away and in section speciiically showing the latch mechanism;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the compo-.1 nent parts of the ferrule which is secured to the lower binder head to provide an anchor for each post;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the completely nished ferrule mounted on the binder head; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the latch mechanisms with its component parts shown separated and in their proper order of the assembly;

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals designate like parts, the numerals 5 and 6 designate generally the top and bottom heads of a loose leaf binder between which the stack of loose leaves l is adapted to be clamped.

Both heads are of solid construction and are made of wood or other suitable non-metallic material covered with fabric which extends from the head to provide hinge portions 8 by which the covers 9 are hingedly connected to the heads.

Binder posts I0 are xed to the lower binder head 6 and pass through the stack of leaves and through holes II in the top binder head. The anchorage for the posts I0, as best shown in Figures 4 and 5, comprises a metal ferrule I2 received in a hole I3 in the lower binder head. A flange I4 on one end of the ferrule holds the same against endwise movement into the hole i3, and rotation of the ferrule in the binder headV received by the washer l5 is reduced in diameter as at I1 to provide a shoulder I8 against which the washer seats. Notches I9 in the inner edge of the washer have the metal of the reduced end portion of the ferrule driven into them during the swedging of the end I'I so that the washer becomes locked against rotation with respect to the ferrule.

The prongs I6, being driven into the binder head, hold the washer and consequently the entire assembly against turning to permit the post to be threaded tightly intothe ferrule.

The upper binder head is secured to the posts by releasable clamping mechanisms 20, one for each post. Each mechanism is contained within a housing 2| stamped from sheet metal and mounted in a recess 22 in the top of the binder head. Tangs 23 extended from the side walls of the housing which define its open bottom, pass through the bottom of the recess and are clinched over to hold the housing in place. The top Wall has a hole 24 for reception of the post and` an aperture 25 through which a releasing level` 2t protrudes. i y

A clamping plate 27 having a hole 28 to receive and grip the post when the plate is tilted, is pivotally mounted inside the housing by a pivot pin 29 passing through the side walls of the housing and attaching ears 30 on the clamping plate.

The handle 26 which protrudes through the aperture 25 is integral with the clamping plate so that by depression of the handle the plate may be rocked on its pivot. A torsion spring 3| yieldingly urges the plate to its post gripping position.

It is to be observed that the releasing levers or handles 26 of the two latching devices face outwardly and that they lie between the posts and adjacent outer edges of the binder head and preferably adjacent to the ends of the binder head. Hence, it is possible to simultaneously depress both handles and release the binder head from the posts With the hands held in the positions they normally occupy in lifting the top binder head 01T the stack of leaves 'l as shown in Figure 2. As here shown, the fingers are under the projecting end portions of the head and the thumbs are in position to press down on the handles 26.

The advantage of this construction is readily apparent, for unless both of the clamping devices are released simultaneously it is impossible to expeditiously open the binder.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention provides a loose leaf binder so designed and constructed as to allow the substitution of wooden binder heads for the hollow steel heads heretofore used and that the substitution is attended with no dimculties, but, on the other hand, results in a practical, readily manipulated binder.

What I claim as my invention is:

In a loose leaf binder having a pair of nonmetallic binder heads with posts fixed to one of the heads and passing through holes in the other head, said other head having a recess in`its top surface in line with each post hole therein, post gripping mechanism mounted in each of said recesses and comprising: an open bottomed substantially cup shaped housing stamped from sheet metal and having its top wall provided with a hole for the reception of the post and an aperture adjacent to the hole and having the edges of its side walls resting on the bottom of the recess; tangs projecting from the side walls and passing through the binder head and clinched over to hold the housing in place; a stamped ieet metal post gripping member inside the housing having a flat plate portion provided with a hole for the reception of the post, attaching ears on said plate portion overlying the inner faces of opposite side walls of the housing, and a releasing lever projecting from the plate portion and extending through the aperture in the top wall of the housing and overlying said top wall; a hinge pin passing through the attaching ears and the side walls of the housing to pivotally mount the post gripping member; and a spring biasing the post gripping member to an inclined post gripping position at which diagonally opposite edges of the post receiving hole therein bite into the post.

ADOLPH G. LOTTER. 

